Fine motor skills disorders in the course of <i>Wilson&#x2032;s disease</i>

• Published in: Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology
• Main Authors: Gunther Peter, Kuhn Hans-Juergen, Villmann Thomas, Hermann Wieland
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2009-01-01
• Subjects: Fine motor skills; Wilson&#x2032;s disease; writing sample
• Online Access: http://www.annalsofian.org/article.asp?issn=0972-2327;year=2009;volume=12;issue=1;spage=28;epage=34;aulast=Gunther
• ISSN: 0972-2327; 1998-3549

<b>Objectives</b> : Fine motor skills disorders belong to the neurological manifestation of Wilson&#x2032;s disease. The aim of this study is to investigate if fine motor performance changes during the course of the disease and with therapy. <b> Methods</b> : In 15 neurological patients with Wilson&#x2032;s disease, severity of neurological symptoms was assessed with a neurology score. A test battery consisting of the hand writing of a test sentence, lines of "double-l" and retracing a circle was carried out for analysis. By means of a computer-aided analysis of the patient`s handwriting, 10 kinematic parameters of the writing trace were calculated. These parameters were determined once at the very beginning of the study and then again after 7 years. <b> Results</b> : Improvement of clinical symptoms was observed after onset of therapy only within the first 2 years. In contrast to the standard population, a reduced degree of automation could be detected both at the beginning and at the end of the 7-year interval. There was no significant change in 8 out of the 10 kinematic parameters during the observation period, 2 deteriorated. <b> Discussion</b> : The absence of a significant increase in fine motor disturbances proves, on the one hand, the efficacy of the therapy regime applied. On the other hand, the end point of a possible reversibility had been reached. A computer-aided analysis of the patient`s handwriting allows for a sensitive detection of the "functional scar" in the extrapyramidal control and can subsequently prompt a timely correction of therapy in case of progression.